Letter: Developments at OGB disturbing

I am completely bewildered over recent developments concerning the current financial woes of the Office of Group Benefits insurance program for state employees.

As a member since it was formed, continuing throughout my career and now into retirement, I have seen it go from stable to unstable to rescued and, under excellent fiscal management, amassing a $500 million surplus. This was a praiseworthy accomplishment for those who were charged with running the OGB for the benefit of not only state employees, but the state as a whole by offering a stable insurance program to entice highly competent individuals to work for Louisiana.

Then Governor Jindal decided to "privatize" the OGB two years ago and guess what? The $500 million surplus which was not protected when the change took place, has, as had been predicted, all but disappeared. If this is not bad enough, one of the reasons the surplus has been deleted is ludicrous.

As has been reported, premiums were reduced almost 9 percent over those two years! Whose idea was that when deficits were increasing to what they are now - over $17 million a month? It doesn't look like the private company which took on this responsibility has acted very responsibly.

Then there is the legislative assistant who has said that if premiums were increased 5 percent and certain benefit changes were implemented the drain would be reduced from $17 million to $10 million dollars a month and the situation would be stabilized? According to the math I'm familiar with, we're still heading for a complete system meltdown. How in the world is the OGB even close to being anywhere near as solvent as it was before privatization?

It is apparent that we were victims much like those in the fable of the Emperor's New Clothes. The only difference is that many spoke against privatization back then.

To legislators and this administration, you need to get this straightened out without breaking the backs of the very citizens that you have wronged through this debacle. You are cutting off your noses to spite your faces.

If you can forget the middle class program members wronged by this, attracting the best and the brightest employees to Louisiana will not be made easier by the ineptitude of decisions gone wrong such as this one.

Debbie Kelly

West Monroe

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Letter: Developments at OGB disturbing

I am completely bewildered over recent developments concerning the current financial woes of the Office of Group Benefits insurance program for state employees.